Ballroom Blitz - The Whiddon Group's, Redhead Aged Care and Benetas Victoria, St George's Aged Care

Everyone at some point in their life remembers what it is like to prepare for that special event, get the hair done, the facial, the excitement of choosing that special dress for the occasion. Many of us seek such events throughout our life from our twenties right through to our sixties......so why not into our seventies, eighties, nineties and beyond. In this article two clients, TWG Redhead Aged Care (Hunter Region NSW) and Benetas St George's Aged Care (Altona VIC) describe their foray into running dance balls for their residents.

TWG Redhead

Four years ago the team at Redhead Aged Care realised that they had a venue that was capable of running large functions and this inspired the team to think about running a ball for residents, relatives and staff. After four fabulous events the themed balls at The Whiddon Group Redhead are meshed into the culture of the organisation. The first four ball themes have been: Hawaiian, Masked, Spanish and South Seas Island.

Residents, relatives and staff dance up a storm at TWG Redhead.

At first the concept seemed a little daunting but enthusiasm took over and before long a planning committee had been established. The committee soon realised that there were many things to take into account and the checklist that the team now uses includes:

• Timetabling the ball in the advanced yearly activity program.
• Selecting themes according to residents suggestions or Australian or National events e.g. Commonwealth Games.
• Ball committee meetings commence approximately 3 months in advance to discuss menu, theme, music, decorations, invitations and staff dance etc.
• Communication via staff meetings, resident meetings and newsletters.
• Contacting and booking the band with discussion on appropriate music for the selected theme.
• Decorations.
• Involvement of residents in the planning and making of costumes, decorations and table centre pieces. Visits to local second hand shops for outfits making it a cheap and fun affair and to also support local community fund raising efforts. Arranging to borrow costumes or revamp of old costumes.
• Informing planned respite admissions so that these residents are also prepared.
• Staff rostering and agreed involvement. Implementation of special job descriptions for the event.
• Planning the traditional choreographed staff dance. One of the staff member's daughters choreographs the dance.
• Organising and conducting the rehearsals 1-2 weeks in advance. The rehearsals are filled with lots of laughter, energy and fun and some say the preparation is the best part of the whole process. The rehearsals build enthusiasm and help to bond and motivate the staff.
• Planning for special dance items e.g. in 2009 a staff member's niece did a special Samoan Dance in line with the South Seas Island theme.

One of the important features that Redhead has and should be considered when planning new facilities is a large function room with a parquetry floor suitable for dancing activity. The function room is large enough for Redhead to invite other local TWG facilities at Belmont and Largs.

Excitement and Involvement

There are many things that build resident and relative excitement and make the Redhead Balls work. These include:

• Staff arrive at work in their ball clothing. You can hear screams of excitement from residents and staff.
• Relatives will often come in and dress-up the resident, bring in good clothing jewellery, jackets etc.
• Everyone moves towards the ball room at the same time and this generates talk and laughter.
• Morning tea with punch and appropriate decorations and adornments served at 10.00 am.
• Concert begins 10.30.
• Residents clap, cheer and sing along with the band. They wave their arms and tap their feet.
• Staff members dance with the residents on the dance floor and this includes wheel chair bound residents. Some of the comments have been....it has been a long while since I danced. ....we used to dance a lot....I enjoy waltzing etc.
• On occasions, the residents have done a choreographed dance as well. The residents did an excellent Hawaiian dance that enthralled everyone.
• The choreographed staff dance is held at approximately 11.30 am and is now a much anticipated event. Residents always cheer for an encore.
• Bell and Beau of the ball announced and gifts given.
• At midday, the residents move to the dining tables for lunch. There is no order of table sittings, everyone dines together, both high care and low care residents. (Staff however do comment that the mid day medication round is a bit more interesting on the day!!)
• Once the residents have been served their main meal the staff members receive a meal and sit with the residents. No clearing of the tables occurs until all staff members have finished their main meal.
• Desert follows.
• The event closes around 2.30 pm.

The comments are always the same. What a wonderful day! And, congratulations to the staff for all their effort and if you reflect on resident satisfaction at Redhead you can see the impact that the balls and other strategies are having.

Benetas St George's Aged Care Ball and Christmas in July

Benetas' St George's Aged Care hosted its inaugural Grand Ball on April 3, 2009. It was six weeks in planning and like Redhead, the St George team noted that excitement builds during the preparation stage. One of the features at St George's was the involvement of staff, families and volunteers in both the planning processes and the practical challenges involved in turning their dining room into a dance floor.

"As soon as we mentioned the dance, many of our residents began sifting through their wardrobes to find their best clothes," Melissa Moloney, St George's Community Coordinator, said. "I also took residents out in a bus to shop for their special outfits."

Rather than a band, St George's opted for a professional DJ that provided both music and lighting. The night was a huge success with over 130 people attending the dance. Feedback since the event suggests that the event has brought the local community in closer contact with the facility. The local press attended and this has subsequently resulted in improved media exposure. "We have never done anything like this before," Michelle Kotiau, St George's Manager, said, "It has already really enhanced our residents' quality of life".

The smiles said it all at the ball.

The motivation has been so great that within the past six months the Grand Ball was followed up by a sensational Christmas in July event and the next ball with an Australia Day Theme is planned for January.

There is one 80 year old high care resident who at the first ball struggled to walk. The activities have inspired this resident to a point where she focuses on improving her fitness so that she can dance the night away. One spark of inspiration in March has evolved into a torrent of motivation with regular quarterly events being planned.